Iowa State Chess Association - Qualification Rules for the Iowa Closed
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Note: These are the Qualification Rules as modified by the April 25, 2004 meeting of the Board of Directors.

Qualification Rules for the Iowa Closed Championship

  1. The championship shall be decided each April in a six-player round robin tournament.
  2. If the current Iowa Closed Championship title is not shared, then the champion does not accumulate qualifying points.
  3. The clear winner of the preceding year's championship is awarded an automatic berth, provided he/she has played in two qualifying tournaments (with having been paired and available to play more than half the games in each tournament) in the current cycle.
  4. Out-of-State IASCA members shall be eligible to compete for the Iowa Closed Championship, provided that they play in four tournaments (or all, if the there are fewer than 4 events held during any particular cycle), with having been paired and available to play more than half the games in each tournament, in the current cycle.
    5. The Iowa Closed Championship shall employ a primary time control of 30 moves in 75 minutes and a secondary sudden death of Game in 60 minutes, unless the six contestants vote unanimously to change to an alternative time control. This time control is recommended for all Grand Prix qualifiers.
  5. The five (or six if the championship title is shared, or the previous champion has not played in the required number of tournaments) players who earn the most qualifying points and fare better in the tie breaks receive bids.
  6. If a player during the Closed Championship withdraws from the tournament for any reason other than an emergency (to be verified by the IASCA Board of Directors and the tournament director) that person will not collect qualifying points during the next cycle and will not be eligible for entering the Closed Championship.
  7. The Iowa Closed Championship is the most prestigious event held by IASCA. To discourage short and/or pre-arranged draws, IASCA reserves the right to impose a fine upon and/or reprimand any players agreeing to a draw in fewer than 15 moves.
Tie-Breaks for Qualifier Status

In the case where individuals vying for the last qualifying spot are tied, tie breaks are used in order as needed until a person is selected to compete. The person gets the nod to compete if he/she meets the following of the qualifying tournaments within the past 11 months.

  1. Played in the most number of the qualifying events.
  2. Had the highest total score including forfeits and byes.
  3. Had the most total wins including forfeits and 1-point byes.
  4. Had the better result in head-to-head play with the person with whom he/she is tied.
  5. Had the highest total tournament score in commonly played qualifying tournaments with the person with whom he/she is tied.
  6. Had the highest score versus commonly played opponents with the person with whom he/she is tied.
  7. Had the highest USCF regular rating in the annual rating list in the past 11 months.

Iowa Resident Definition:

A person working full time in Iowa, living in a house or apartment in Iowa, and in possession of an Iowa driver's license or state identification.

Or

Anyone attending K -12 in Iowa in the past 6 months.

Or

Anyone who has had an Iowa residence as their primary residence for the previous 6 months prior to the start of the tournament in which points would be allowed. Members serving in the armed forces and on active duty elsewhere shall be considered as residing within the State.

Or

Any college student who is enrolled full time in an Iowa school at the time of the qualifying tournament.

General Rules for a Qualifying Tournament:

  1. It shall be advertised as an Iowa Qualifier in Chess Life and the Iowa Chess En Passant except for the Mini-Qualifier that needs only to be advertised in the En Passant.
  2. It shall be a no smoking tournament.
  3. It shall require all participants to be current in dues to the IASCA at the start of round 1.
  4. Only IASCA members shall gain qualifying points.
  5. A qualifier fee that is used to fund the Iowa Closed Championship shall be paid to the IASCA via the treasurer.
  6. It shall be cleared through the Iowa Tournament Clearinghouse so the tournament date cannot conflict with another qualifier.
  7. It shall be sponsored by a USCF and IASCA affiliate.
  8. It shall be US Chess Federation rated.
  9. It shall be held on a weekend commencing at 6:00 P.M. on Friday.
  10. A final crosstable shall be submitted to IASCA via one of the Board members.
  11. The qualifying points shall only be awarded to IASCA members who have a score of 50% or better with the highest-scoring participant being awarded 8 points and the second highest-scoring participant being awarded 6 points as in the case of a Qualifier where the points being distributed are 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. In the case of ties, points will be split (for example, if first place gets 8 points and second place 6 points, then both will receive 7 points if they were involved in a two-way tie for first place in the tournament and both eligible for qualifying points).
  12. Dates of all qualifiers shall be from May 1 until March 31 of the following year.

Different Types of Qualifying Tournaments:

There shall be 4 types of qualifying tournaments: Grand Prix Qualifier, Qualifier, Mini-Qualifier, and Super Grand Prix Qualifier.  The Iowa Open is the only Super Grand-Prix Qualifier that is a Grand Prix Qualifier except that its points are 50% greater (18, 13.5, 12, 10.5, 9, 7.5, 6, 4.5, 3, and 1.5) than a Grand Prix Qualifier. The Iowa Open is to be held on Labor Day weekend or as close to it as possible.

Grand Prix Qualifier Requirements:

  1. A $25 qualifier fee shall be paid to the IASCA.
  2. The respective qualifying points that shall be awarded are: 12, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.
  3. There shall be a minimum number of 5 rounds scheduled.
  4. It shall be a USCF Grand Prix event, which entails guaranteeing at least $300 in place prizes and the chief director for the event must higher than a club level TD.
  5. There shall be a trophy awarded for first place.
  6. A primary sudden death time control shall not be allowed. The minimum time control shall be 30 moves in 60 minutes and sudden death in 60 minutes.
  7. Only two of this type of Qualifier shall be held in any one city during the year (May-March).

Qualifier Requirements:

  1. A $15 qualifier fee shall be paid to the IASCA.
  2. The respective qualifying points that shall be awarded are: 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.
  3. There shall be a minimum number of 5 rounds scheduled.
  4. A primary sudden death time control shall not be allowed. The minimum time control shall be 30 moves in 60 minutes and sudden death in 60 minutes.
  5. Only one this type of Qualifier shall be held in any one city during the year (May-March).

Mini-Qualifier Requirements:

  1. A $10 qualifier fee shall be paid to the IASCA.
  2. The respective qualifying points that shall be awarded to are: 6, 4, 3, 2, and 1.
  3. There shall be a minimum number of 4 rounds scheduled.
  4. The minimum time control shall be Game in 60 minutes or Game in 55 minutes with a 5-second time delay.
  5. No IASCA affiliate can hold more than 3 Mini-Qualifier events per year.